LONDON  David Bowie on Tuesday released a surprise single on his 66th birthday and announced his first album in a decade.

The single, “Where Are We Now,” was mentioned in a Twitter post and put on the front page of the singer’s website. It can be downloaded from iTunes.

It will be followed by The Next Day album, which comes out in March.

The star, remembered for 1970s songs such as “Starman” and “Life on Mars,” has not performed live for some years. He suffered chest pain while performing in Germany in 2004 and later said it was a minor heart attack.

He has rarely been seen in public and his spokesman has denied reports of further ill health.

An exhibition devoted to Bowie opens at London’s Victoria & Albert Museum on March 23.